A homeless man suffering from multiple mental illnesses was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbed a woman who was sleeping on a park bench in DeLand.
Michael Shaw was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison immediately following a two-day trial.
According to a statement issued by State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit R.J. Larizza, Shaw was sentenced “immediately following the verdict.”
The sentence comes more than three years after the fatal stabbing, which took place on the night of October 16, 2019. That night, Shaw, who was homeless at the time, took methamphetamine and went walking around DeLand.
During his walk, he came across a victim who was sleeping on a park bench in downtown DeLand.
After pacing near the victim for a couple minutes, Shaw took out a hunting knife that he had purchased less than 24 hours before. He used the knife to stab the woman multiple times before he took the knife to his own throat.
The victim died from her injuries at the scene. Shaw recovered from his injury and was arrested after his recovery.